Can Seeds Germinate Without Light?

Q&A: Do Seeds Always Need Light To Germinate?

Seeds often need water, oxygen, and many conditions to sprout. Do seeds always need light to germinate? Is there any seed variety that can germinate in the darkness? Let’s go to find the answers to these questions. Then, you would find the best light condition for specific pip varieties of vegetables, flowers, herbs, and fruit to sprout indoors or outdoors. 

Q&A: Do Seeds Always Need Light To Germinate?

Do Seeds Always Need Light To Germinate?

No, they do not. Most of the floral seeds germinate underground where the light cannot reach them. A lot of kernels sprout in dark or specific environments. Check out specific seed varieties of popular vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruit trees that germinate with or without light. 

Vegetable seeds that need light to germinate

Seeds that need illumination to sprout should not be sown deeply in the soil. They must be spread on the ground surface to get enough natural or fluorescent. Here are popular vegetable seeds that cannot sprout without light. 

• Rose
• Carrots
• Lettuce
• Salvias plants

These plants often have tiny seeds that need to be sown on the ground surface. You can press seeds gently to make them contact with the soil. Farmers do not cover soil over these seeds that need illumination, because it may inhibit germination. 

Seeds that need darkness to germinate

Can you germinate seeds without light? It would be a positive answer for many types of nuts. Most commercial grains are selected and crossbred to start in different conditions of the environment, such as dark or cold places. 

Seeds that can sprout without light should be covered by a thin layer of lightweight soil or buried deeply in the land. The following seeds are examples and evidence to illustrate and prove the negative answer to the matter of "Do seeds always need light to germinate?"

• Onion
• Calendula
• Sunflower
• Nasturtium
• Cauliflower 
• Cabbage
• Chinese cabbage
• Squashes 
• Peppers
• Brussels sprouts
• Broccoli
• Collards 
• Kale
• Leek
• Melon
• Watermelon

If you cannot see the seeds, light cannot reach them. For example, farmers often make holes in the field, put sweet corn kernels into these small and shallow holes, and cover it with fertilized soil to provide seedlings with adequate nutrients for development. 

Some vegetable seeds grow well in any light condition, such as cucumber, tomato, and eggplant. You can grow them in the greenhouse and use black plastic sheets to cover them on burning sunny days. Then, remove the sheets at night. 

How Does Light Affect Germination & Growth?

Most floral seeds do not need light to sprout. Therefore, the answer to the matter of "Do seeds always need light to germinate" would be negative. But some seed varieties cannot germinate without light. So, grains often have a higher germination percentage when exposed to darkness or low light intensity.

In addition, light has a bigger impact on tiny seeds, such as rose kernels, than on big grains, such as beans and peas. The light wakes up nuts with a signal and encourages them to sprout. 

Moreover, the reaction of seeds to light can control the germination timing for your crops. For example, white light can stimulate germination of rose seeds, but blue light inhibits it. Young plants also perform better photosynthesis under white light.

What Does A Seed Need To Germinate?

Light, water, and soil are the necessities for seed germination. You had better control the moisture, oxygen, temperature, and light intensity well. These aspects impact the quality of kernels and young plants directly. Let’s answer some popular questions related to light and the best conditions for kernel germination.

What is the best light for germinating seeds?

Fluorescent light is the best light to germinate seeds. Therefore, you should start seeds indoors and use a fluorescent or LED lamp to stimulate germination. Undeniably, controlling the light condition indoors is easier than doing it outdoors. Therefore, you should start spring onion, broccoli, pepper seeds, etc. indoors.  

When to put light on germinated seeds?

You should turn on the fluorescent light to let the seedling grow well after seeing a seed sprout. Seedlings need 14 to 18 hours of illumination per day and a proper amount of oxygen, moisture, and a suitable temperature. Seedlings will grow to mature plants quickly in their ideal environment. Make sure you provide enough light, moisture, oxygen, and soil temperature for them.

What is the best temperature for seed germination?

Though you could say No to the question ‘‘Do seeds always need light to germinate", you have to pay attention to temperature. The ideal temperature for most seeds to germinate is between 68°F and 86°F. You can control the heat by using an air conditioner in the seedling room. 

However, it also varies for different kinds of nuts. Many grains sprout in cool weather, such as lettuce, onion, and peas. Besides, you ought to germinate some vegetable seeds, such as cabbage, kale, Chinese cabbage, and brassicas, in hot weather. 

How often do you need to water seeds/seedlings?

You should provide the germination tray with a proper amount of water to make the soil moist. Dry soil could kill kernels and reduce the germination rate. Don’t forget to water seedlings gently a with spraying bottle once or twice daily at sunrise and sunset. Soil is often dried quickly in the hot season. Do not water seedlings in the hottest moment of the day, or the plant will die.

Conclusion

To summarize, seeds do not always need light to germinate. A lot of kernels prefer sprouting in the darkness. Apart from the negative answer to the question ‘Do seeds always need light to germinate’ in the title, you get some tips about incubating nuts. Follow The Rike Blog for more tips and information about seasonal seeds and gardening work. You can easily buy a lot of high-quality seasonal seeds online from this reliable US-based herb supplier.